Detector and a voltage converter

Abstract

A detector for detecting an occurrence of a current strength of interest (e.g. zero current) of a current of a signal to be sensed includes a magnetoresistive structure and a detection unit. The magnetoresistive structure varies a resistance depending on a magnetic field caused by the current of the signal to be sensed. Further, the detection unit generates and provides a current detection signal indicating an occurrence of the current strength of interest based on a detected magnitude of the varying resistance of the magnetoresistive structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A voltage converter comprising:
 an input configured to receive a voltage signal to be converted; 
 a magnetoresistive structure configured to vary a resistance depending on a magnetic field caused by the voltage signal to be converted or a processed signal obtained by processing the voltage signal to be converted; 
 a detector configured to selectively generate and provide, when a detected magnitude of the varying resistance of the magnetoresistive structure indicates an occurrence of a current strength of interest within the voltage signal or the processed signal, a current detection signal indicating the occurrence of the current strength of interest; and 
 a converter configured to covert the voltage signal to be converted or the processed signal obtained by processing the voltage signal to be converted to a converted voltage signal based on the current detection signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , wherein the converter comprises:
 at least one switch configured to switch the voltage signal to be converted or the processed signal obtained by processing the voltage signal to be converted, and 
 wherein the detector is configured to provide the current detection signal to the at least one switch so that a switching of the at least one switch is triggered by an occurrence of the current strength of interest of the current of the voltage signal to be converted or the processed signal obtained by processing the voltage signal to be converted. 
 
     
     
       3. The voltage converter according to  claim 2 , wherein the magnetoresistive structure is located in the proximity of an electrically conductive line configured to carry the voltage signal to be converted or the processed signal obtained by processing the voltage signal to be converted, and
 wherein the electrically conductive line is connected to a source or drain of the at least one switch, and is connected to an inductor or builds up a coil of an inductor. 
 
     
     
       4. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , wherein the voltage converter is configured to rectify the voltage signal to be converted. 
     
     
       5. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , configured to convert a power of more than 1 W. 
     
     
       6. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , wherein the current strength of interest is a zero current. 
     
     
       7. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector is further configured to generate an adjustment signal based on the current detection signal and a sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure, and to generate the current detection signal based on the detected magnitude of the varying resistance of the magnetoresistive structure and the adjustment signal. 
     
     
       8. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , wherein the current detection signal comprises a peak, a pulse, a rising signal edge, or a falling signal edge at a time when the detected magnitude of the varying resistance of the magnetoresistive structure corresponds to the current strength of interest of the current signal to be sensed. 
     
     
       9. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , wherein the current detection signal comprises a detectable characteristic at a time when the detected magnitude of the varying resistance of the magnetoresistive structure corresponds to the current strength of interest of the current signal to be sensed. 
     
     
       10. The voltage converter according to  claim 7 , wherein the detector further comprises an adjuster configured to adjust the adjustment signal based on the sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure to a range of maximal sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure so that a magnetic field caused by the current strength of interest of the current signal lies in the range of maximal sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure. 
     
     
       11. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetoresistive structure comprises at least a non-magnetic layer arranged between a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer so that the resistance of this layer stack varies depending on a magnetic field caused by a current of the signal to be sensed. 
     
     
       12. The voltage converter according to  claim 11 , wherein the non-magnetic layer is an electrically conductive layer such that the variation of the resistance is based on a giant magnetoresistive effect, or the non-magnetic layer is an electrically insulating layer such that the variation of the resistance is based on a tunnel magnetoresistive effect. 
     
     
       13. The voltage converter according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetoresistive structure and an electrically conductive line configured to carry the signal to be sensed are manufactured on a same semiconductor die. 
     
     
       14. A voltage converter comprising:
 an input configured to receive a voltage signal to be converted; 
 a magnetoresistive structure configured to vary a resistance based on a magnetic field associated with the voltage signal; 
 a detector configured to detect a magnitude of the varying resistance of the magnetoresistive structure and to selectively generate, when the detected magnitude of the varying resistance of the magnetoresistive structure indicates an occurrence of a current strength of interest within the voltage signal, a current detection signal indicating the occurrence of the current strength within the voltage signal; and 
 a converter configured to covert the voltage signal to a converted voltage signal based on the current detection signal. 
 
     
     
       15. The voltage converter according to  claim 14 , wherein the converter comprises:
 at least one switch configured to switch the voltage signal to be converted, wherein the detector is configured to provide the current detection signal to the at least one switch so that a switching of the at least one switch is triggered by an occurrence of the current strength. 
 
     
     
       16. The voltage converter according to  claim 15 , wherein the magnetoresistive structure is located in the proximity of an electrically conductive line configured to carry the voltage signal to be converted, and
 wherein the electrically conductive line is connected to a source or drain of the at least one switch, and is connected to an inductor or builds up a coil of an inductor. 
 
     
     
       17. The voltage converter according to  claim 14 , wherein the current strength is a zero current strength. 
     
     
       18. The voltage converter according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the detector is further configured to generate an adjustment signal based on a sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure, and to generate the current detection signal based on the detected magnitude of the varying resistance of the magnetoresistive structure and the adjustment signal. 
 
     
     
       19. The voltage converter according to  claim 18 , wherein the detector is configured to generate the adjustment signal based on the sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure and the current detection signal. 
     
     
       20. The voltage converter according to  claim 18 , wherein the detector is further configured to adjust the adjustment signal based on the sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure to a range of maximal sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure so that a magnetic field caused by the current strength of the current signal lies in the range of maximal sensitivity of the magnetoresistive structure.